In Thomas Clemson’s will, he bequeathed the Fort Hill plantation and a considerable sum from his personal assets for the establishment of an educational institution that became Clemson University.

   

A lasting legacy — a look at seven gifts that have left their mark on Clemson University

By Angela Nixon
Media Relations

The seven bronze oak leaves along the path that leads to Fort Hill, the historic home of John C. Calhoun and Thomas Green Clemson, might be easy to overlook during the daily bustle of campus life. But student leaders, the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, and the Advancement Division are hosting a special event on Nov. 6 to call attention to this subtle memorial to legacy.

Each of the leaves bears the name of a donor who has left his or her own unique mark on the University. The leaves memorialize members of the Fort Hill Legacy Society, which honors bequests of $1 million or more when the University receives them. 

Thomas Green Clemson and Anna Calhoun Clemson: Founded Clemson University

Thomas Green Clemson came to the Foothills of South Carolina when, in 1838, he married Anna Maria Calhoun, daughter of John C. Calhoun.

In the post-Civil War days of 1865, Thomas Clemson looked upon a South that lay in economic ruin, once remarking, "This country is in wretched condition, no money and nothing to sell. Everyone is ruined, and those that can are leaving."

Before Anna’s death, the Clemsons decided to leave most of their estate to be used to establish a college that would teach scientific agriculture and the mechanical arts to the young people of South Carolina. In Thomas Clemson’s will, he bequeathed the Fort Hill plantation and a considerable sum from his personal assets for the establishment of an educational institution that became Clemson University. 

Wofford Benjamin Camp and Louise P. Camp: Helped establish and provide continuing support for the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts

W.B. “Bill” Camp, a 1916 Clemson graduate, was one of the country’s leading agriculturists of the 20th century. Often called the “Father of Cotton,” Bill was best known for his pioneering work with the crop in California. Camp held positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, served in the Roosevelt administration in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and served as president of Georgianna Farms in California, growing cotton, potatoes and other crops. He became president of the National Potato Council in 1948 and a director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1952.

Bill married Louise Phifer Wise in 1956. Louise was a grand soprano and studied under the Metropolitan Opera coaches in New York City.

Charles E. Daniel and Homozel Mickel Daniel: Created endowments to support scholarships, fellowships and an endowed chair position in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities

Charles E. Daniel co-founded Daniel Construction Corp., which, at one time, was the largest construction company in the world. Charles was a Clemson Life Trustee from 1949 until 1964, and he received an honorary doctorate from Clemson in 1951. In 1954, he was appointed by Gov. James F. Byrnes to fill the unexpired term of the late Sen. Burnet R. Maybank. Daniel served as a director of many national corporations including the Chemical Bank of New York Trust Co., Eastern Airlines, Georgia-Pacific Corp., Graniteville Co., Prudential Insurance Co., Southern Bell Telephone Company and J.P. Stevens and Co. He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1985.

To honor Homozel’s parents, the Daniels created endowments to fund scholarships and fellowships in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities and an endowed chair in the School of Architecture. Clemson’s Charles E. Daniel Center for Building Research and Urban Study in Genoa, Italy, is named in his honor.

Clyde V. Madren Sr. and Mamie W. Madren: Provided support for the Clyde V. Madren Sr. Continuing Education and Conference Center

Clyde V. Madren, with the love and support of his wife, Mamie, built the Madren Paint Co. into a thriving business located in Charleston. Clyde said he supported education because, “Life is sort of like painting. You have to prepare the surface properly before the paint goes on to make it stick. I see education as that preparation.”

Although he did not attend Clemson, Madren grew to love the campus while visiting for football games. In addition to supporting the conference center, Madren also established three scholarships for civil engineering students.

William M. Ballenger and Florence Coles Ballenger: Funded the Clemson National Scholars program

William M. Ballenger, a 1923 Clemson alumnus who worked as an engineer for General Electric, created a marital trust to provide for his wife, Florence. Upon her death, William requested that the funds go to Clemson. Florence agreed, asking only that the money be used where the need was greatest. University officials decided to use the funds for the Clemson National Scholars program, one of the top scholarship programs in the country.

Florence spent her career as a college English teacher. She also made significant bequests to other schools including Eastern Illinois University, Kennedy-King College in Chicago and St. Petersburg Junior College in Florida.

Mary Katherine Littlejohn: Funded scholarships

From her family home built in 1937 at 114 Daniel Drive, Mary Katherine “Sooky” Littlejohn radiated love and loyalty for Clemson. Popular in the community as an author and speaker, Mary Katherine was perhaps best known for her two volumes of Tales of Tigertown.  With the proceeds from the first book, she established the James Corcoran and Mary Poats Littlejohn Memorial Scholarship in honor of her parents.

She later published a second volume, Twice Told Tales of Tigertown, and donated the proceeds to scholarships in the School of Nursing. Later, she and Joe Young, professor emeritus of architecture, established the Marcia and Jim Barker Endowed Scholarship in Architecture.

Ernest L. Corley Jr.: Funded a Trustees Chair and graduate student assistantship in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences

Ernest L. Corley Jr. was a 1949 Clemson dairy science graduate who became one of the top officials in the United States Department of Agriculture. Throughout his career, he credited Clemson with opening the door to his success. He attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin where he obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in dairy science. He joined the dairy science faculty at Wisconsin in 1952, where he led in the development of a statewide dairy cattle record-keeping system. In 1963 he joined the USDA as leader of the National Dairy record-keeping program for the Agriculture Research Service at Beltsville, Md., and retired in 1992 as director of agriculture research for ARS in the South Atlantic Area.

Corley created the Ernest L. Corley Jr. Trustees Chair in bovine livestock research and the Ernest L. Corley Jr. Endowed Graduate Assistantship. He also established an endowment to fund scholarships for students from Saluda County.

Legacy Day

Legacy Day on Friday, Nov. 6, will celebrate these seven donors and educate students, faculty, staff and visitors about the rich history of Clemson University. Starting at 2:30 p.m., the event will feature tours of Fort Hill, a scavenger hunt for historic facts and trivia in the house, music and food.

There also will be a book signing for the new biography of Thomas Green Clemson, and the book will be available for purchase. Thomas Green Clemson was written by 13 authors, most of whom are Clemson faculty and staff members, and edited by English professor Alma Bennett. Written for general readers as well as scholars, history buffs and students, the 400-page book includes a 16-page color section of historical portraits and selections from Clemson’s own art collection. The book also features historic documents, maps and genealogy charts of the Clemson and Calhoun families dating from the 1600s to the 1970s.

The newly formed Tiger Legacy student group will also be on hand at the event with giveaways and information. Tiger Legacy is for students whose parents are Clemson alumni.

A special ceremony at 4 p.m. will dedicate the Fort Hill Legacy Society leaves.

“It’s important for students to understand the Clemson legacy and the importance of leaving their own legacy here. The University cannot exist without support from alumni and others in the community,” said senior Garrett Riddle, a management major from Simpsonville. “Leadership groups such as Blue Key, Alpha Phi Omega and Tiger Brotherhood have worked hard to make Legacy Day a time for students to have fun while learning about Clemson history and the people who have made an impact — and are still making an impact — on the University.”

To read more stories about the determined spirit of Clemson’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, visit www.clemson.edu/determined.